Women's basketball: Swift hits winner at buzzer for Pioneers

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Junior guard Taylor
Swift knocked down a jumper at the buzzer to give TWU a 60-59 win at Ouachita
Baptist in the Pioneers’ season opener Tuesday night.

The Pioneers led most of the second half
before OBU took a 59-58 lead on a jumper by Nashia James.

TWU junior Rebekah Cluley missed a
jumper with three seconds left in the game, but Swift cleared the offensive
rebound and knocked down the winning shot.

Junior guard Tabbatha Thurmond and
sophomore guard Toree Mason each scored 16 points to lead the Pioneers on
offense.

Thurmond grabbed 11 rebounds, including
six on offense. Junior guard Rachel Schlosser also recorded a double-double
with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“We had lot of players step up and play
some big minutes,” TWU head coach Beth Jillson said. “We were in foul trouble
the whole game, and Toree came off the bench and hit some big 3s. Rachel and
Tabb both faced a lot of adversity and never quit.

“Taylor made a huge shot for the win.
Her defender went for the double-team and left her open for the putback.”

The Pioneers struggled on offense in the
first half and scored just 22 points, but they held Ouachita Baptist to just
24.0 percent shooting and took a one-point lead into halftime.

TWU regrouped in the second half to
shoot 42.9 percent and hit 11 of 15 free throws.

The Pioneers will return to action this
weekend when they host the Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere on
Saturday and Sunday at Kitty Magee Arena.

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